[Updated] Supermarkets: We never said we're in talks with Health Ministry 

Supermarkets Association president Rajiv Diptee said he is standing by a press release he issued which Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has called "absolutely false."

Diptee said despite the minister's "reactive" response in Parliament, he is still willing to work with the ministry to organise covid19 vaccines for members of the association.

In a press release on Wednesday, Diptee said the association is seeking 30,000 covid19 vaccines for its members, who are willing to pay for it.

The release said, “Employees of the association have been on the frontline for the past year. Therefore, the association is currently exploring avenues to have them vaccinated against the virus in the shortest possible frame time and we will be working with the Ministry of Health to make this a reality."

But in Parliament on Friday afternoon, Deyalsingh said no such arrangements had been discussed.

He said the association needs to show how it intends to procure the vaccines and to properly administer them. In addition, he reminded Diptee that any covid19 vaccine used in Trinidad and Tobago must be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and be imported through the local distributor.

“Mr Rajiv Diptee wrote me on Monday, March 15. On Wednesday, he put out a press release saying they are ‘working with the Ministry of Health,’ which was absolutely false.

“In his letter to me, he indicated that two private entities – medical associations, medical hospitals – have partnered with him to distribute these vaccines.

"When I called these private hospitals, they have absolutely no knowledge, no agreement…so that issue seems to be clouded in controversy. It is shocking that these private entities have denied all knowledge of any partnership with the Supermarkets Association.

"So," he recapped, "he wrote to me on the 15th, he went public a day later, and I responded on the 17th.”

He said members of the media had begun “bombarding” him with questions about the partnership purported by Diptee.

Contacted for comment on Friday, Diptee said the release clearly said the association "will be working" with the Health Ministry, which means it intends to do so, and not that discussions between the two entities were taking place already.

Asked why the release was issued before the minister responded, he said, "If it hits the minister's inbox and it was sent days prior, it's up to them to acknowledge receipt...And let me point out that other conglomerates like Ansa McAl put out their own vaccination initiative without the same kind of blowback.

"The press release was nothing more than saying the association wants to work on getting its staff vaccinated. It was nothing other than an intention to vaccinate our workers."

Asked if he stands by the release, given Deyalsingh's response, he said, "Yes, I am.

"It said we will be working with the ministry, which can be construed whichever way you want to look at it. It said 'will be' working, not 'are.'"

As for the private entities' denial of a partnership, he said, "While some discussions and relationships have evolved, some of them have not. So it is unfair to suggest that in the short space of a few days, some relationships would have been finalised. As a result of this (response from Deyalsingh), some relationships have broken down."

But he said he remains committed to working with the Health Ministry on the possibility of the arrangements requested.

"I am not the Minister of Health, but it seems he's very reactive.

"But I don't want to be as reactive. I would like to tell him very calmly, 'I want to continue to work with you. The private sector is here to help you.'"

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original publication.

HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has said a recent press release issued by Supermarkets Association president Rajiv Diptee is “absolutely false.”

He said the Health Ministry is not in talks with the association about the private purchase of covid19 vaccines.

In a press release on Wednesday, Diptee said the association is seeking 30,000 covid19 vaccines for its members, who are willing to pay for it.

The release said, “Employees of the association have been on the frontline for the past year. Therefore, the association is currently exploring avenues to have them vaccinated against the virus in the shortest possible frame time and we will be working with the Ministry of Health to make this a reality."

But in Parliament on Friday afternoon, Deyalsingh said no such arrangements were discussed.

He said the association needs to show how it intends to procure the vaccines and to properly administer them. In addition, he reminded Diptee that any covid19 vaccine used in Trinidad and Tobago must be approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and be imported through the local distributor.

“Mr Rajiv Diptee wrote me on Monday, March 15. On Wednesday, he put out a press release saying they are ‘working with the Ministry of Health,’ which was absolutely false.

“In his letter to me, he indicated that two private entities – medical associations, medical hospitals – have partnered with him to distribute these vaccines.

"When I called these private hospitals, they have absolutely no knowledge, no agreement…so that issue seems to be clouded in controversy.

“It is shocking that these private entities have denied all knowledge of any partnership with the Supermarkets Association.

"So," he recapped, "he wrote to me on the 15th, he went public a day later ,and I responded on the 17th.”He said members of the media had begun “bombarding” him with questions about the partnership purported by Diptee.